The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-29
The State Road.

| The Louisville and Nashville railroad
| owns a majority Of the shares of the West
| ern and Atlantic Railroad Company, the
| lessees of the State road The President OF
| that company, Senator Brown, is said to be
only dummy stakeholder, the one-eighth
| of share standing on the books in his name
really belonging to other parties. He there
! fore has no other interest in the lease than
the salary which is paid him for his
services. The salary is a large one,
but it cannot be doubted that he
is worth all of it to his associates
No other man could fill his place so well. 1t
is probable that he has learned good deal
about railroad management since he was
elected President of the road, as a man of
his clear mind and close observation could
not fail to do; but it has been in another
field than the management of the railroads
business affairs that his services have been
of most value He has had to manage
politicians and spoilsmen, and possibly some
newspapers, and nothing but his steady
hand and shrewd judgment has saved the
lease from hostile legislation, or, perhaps,
from abrogation 1t has been as politician
rather than as a business man, that he has
earned his salary.
Senator Brown is great power in Geor
gia, and the manner in which his power
will be exercised in closing up the existing
contract between the State and the lessees is
a matter of great interest to the people.
Personally, perhaps he cares very little
whether the State road is sold or not, but
he will not be true to his record, nor to his
duty, perhaps, if he does not get every cent
out of the State Treasury that he can in the
payment for betterments and other claims
for the benefit of the lessees.
If the State road is sold, and the proba-
bility is that it will be, there ought to be
lively competition between the great South
ern lines for it,
1t is certainly to the States interest that
there should be. 1t is not to be presumed
that any astute legislators will propose to
rule out certain bidders, as was the case in
the sale of the old Macon and Brunswick
The wisdom learned from experience in that
transaction will probably lead to an unani-
nous endeavor to secure all the competition
possible between those who desire to buy
the States property ..
for SO long a time controlled the State road,
and with which Senator Brown may be
said to be identified, will in all probability
be one of the most eager bidders
for the road should it be sold
On the determination by the Louisville and
Nashville directors of the question whether
a sale of the State road would be advan-
tageous to them, it is fair to infer, depends
in considerable degree the decision of the
question whether it shall be sold. Those d.
rectors may decide that their treasury is not
in condition to make such purchase, or
that they would stand better chance for a
profitable arrangement if the road were to
be again leased. To whatever decision they
may come, if Senator Brown gives them his
political influence, it will probably settle
the fate of the State road. The Senator's
influence is not omnipotent, of course, but
past events have shown that if he goes
earnestly to work, either in favor
of or in opposition to the PROPOSE
ton to sell the property, it will prove
deciding factor. Senator Brown is one of
the best living opponents of practical poll
tics, and would probably see nothing wrong
in such use of the power given him by a
clear head, great fortune, and the oppor-
tunities of a long and singularly successful
political career.
If a sale is decided upon, however, it is to
be hoped that clear field will be made for
all who want the property. In that event
other interests may prove strong enough to
wrest the prize from those which now con-
troll it. ST.